Eddy Newman, Lord Mayor of Manchester, said: “The people of Manchester will remember the victims for ever and we will defy the terrorist by all our diverse communities working together cohesively and with mutual respect.

“This is an unbelievable turnout tonight. It shows they are the very few, we are the very many.

“We are Manchester.

“We will pull through the events of last night because we will stand together.

“You cannot defeat us because love in the end is always stronger than hate.”